Deion Sanders defends son Shedeur’s decision to snub Ravens

Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders reportedly turned down an opportunity to end his draft slide this spring by joining the Baltimore Ravens. His father, NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, defended the move on Monday.

According to the elder Sanders, currently the coach at Colorado, the family had conversations with the Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles during the draft. But Baltimore has two-time MVP Lamar Jackson under center. The defending champions from Philadelphia have the established Jalen Hurts taking snaps.

Shedeur Sanders didn’t want to be stuck behind bona fide stars on the depth chart, his father said on the “New Heights” podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce.

“How in the world can someone fault him for saying or thinking, ’Why in the world would I go back up Lamar [Jackson] for 10 more years?’” The cornerback-turned-coach said. “Like, who comes in with that mindset?”

An ESPN report earlier this month indicated that Shedeur Sanders, who fell to the fifth round after being viewed by media analysts as a potential first-rounder, could’ve been drafted earlier. The Ravens reportedly offered to take him with the 141st pick.

The former Colorado quarterback declined, instead joining the Browns as the 144th pick.

The Sanderses’ theory held that the rookie would have a path to playing time in Cleveland. He’d have a chance to develop on the field, rather than being buried on the depth chart.

“I’ve never sat on the bench and said, ’Well, I learned a lot today,’” Deion Sanders told the Kelces. “Who learns sitting on the bench?”

The gambit hasn’t paid off yet. Shedeur Sanders is currently the third quarterback on the Browns’ depth chart, behind veteran Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.

“I got a prediction. I ain’t telling nobody. I got a feeling when it’s going to go down,” Deion Sanders said of his son’s chance of starting this season. “But it’s going to go down this year. He’s going to get a shot.”